Notes of East Men’s and Women’s Leagues Annual General Meeting 5^th June 2005

Apologies for absence

Carlton Park HC, Chelmsford HC, Welwyn Garden City HC, Upminster HC, Peterborough Athletic HC, Colchester HC

Present:  36 persons, representative of 23 clubs.

Postal voting:  33 postal voting papers were received, 20 from EML and 13 from EWL  clubs.

1.  Chairmen’s welcome

On behalf of the EML and the EWL Chairman of EWL Sarah Mann welcomed all present.

2.  Chairmen’s League Reports for 2003-4 season

The Chairmen of the two leagues presented brief reviews of the 2004/5 season.  During the season the two league committees had met jointly on a regular basis to determine matters of concern to both, and this had led to the proposal from EWL that the two committees be combined in 2005/6.

In the EWL, the decision had been taken to expand the league by adding one division, giving a structure comprising Premier, 1N, 1S, 2C, 2N and 2S divisions.  All these divisions would be in place in 2005/6, but with most playing with 10 teams only.  In the following seasons, reduced relegation from EWL coupled with promotions for all county champions would progressively build all divisions up to 12 teams.

Thanks were expressed to retiring members of the EWL Committee, all of whom had given years of service to the league – Colin Burton, Jean Coleman, and Avril Adams. Sarah Mann was retiring as Chairman of the EWL but would continue to be involved as overall Results Coordinator for the EWL.

In the EML, disciplinary issues had been a particular problem, and two teams had been subjected to a one-division disciplinary relegation, one applied and one suspended, following the fielding of players during ban periods.  On the positive side, the number of yellow cards in the league was significantly lower than in the previous season.

Thanks were expressed to retiring league Manager and Budgets Officer, Alan Gage, after a number of years of work on behalf of the league.

Finally, the Chairmen emphasised that the leagues were looking for volunteers for next season:  each league is currently short of a League Manager, and the leagues (and East) also need a new Handbook Editor .  It will not be possible to cover these roles within the existing resources.

3. Election of Officers

The following had been nominated by the League Committees.  There were no other nominations.

Chairman:  Russell Nutter

Secretary:  Trevor Williams

EML League Managers:  David Burt, Cliff Gulbis, Mike Huckerby, Chris Kime, Jim Morris, Pritpal Sagoo, Robert Southgate.

EML Results Coordinator:  Richard Munns

EWL League Managers:  Janet Goody, Rosemary Prince

EWL Results Coordinator:  Sarah Mann

Budget Officer:  Trevor Williams

Voting was en bloc and result was as follows, including postal votes:  For 46, Against 0.

The Officers as listed were therefore elected.

4. League fees 2004-5 season

The proposed fee for of £15 per team (£20 for late entries) was agreed by 47 votes  to 0. 

5. Amendments to League Rules

The rule amendments proposed by the League Committees were discussed and voted upon individually, with the results as follows, including postal votes:

RULE	Summary of proposed change	For	Against
1. League Management	Both leagues to be managed by one committee comprising a Chairman, a Secretary, a Budgets Officer, and the League Managers and Results Coordinators of both leagues.  League Managers  must be of the same gender as their League.	46	1
3.2 Premier Division player registration	Teams in EML Prem A or EWL Prem must register all players by start of the season - no limit to number of players, and additions can be made during season, subject to transfer rule and providing no more than two players are registered in a season who would not comply with the current England Hockey League regulations on eligible overseas players. Note:  This change is an England Hockey requirement.	44	2
3.3 Transfers	Incoming players who last played for a club outside the UK to be subject to the Transfer Rule.	43	3
3.4 Team selection	Doubling up of players: Regular bench players in Div 2 or above may play for lower teams. Below Div 2:  a GK can play any number of games as a GK; a team may use a field player who is not more than 2 teams stronger; a bottom team can use up to four players with prior League consent.	40	5
4.2  Matches	(1) Teams in EML 2 up and EWL 1 up must supply home match times and venues to the Leagues prior to the season (first half fixtures) and by Nov (second half fixtures) via the East website.	44	1
4.2  Matches	(2) From 2006/7 season all matches must be played on astro.	46	3
4.4 Results	(1) EWL results now to be input by clubs to the East website.	13	3
4.4 Results	(2) Failure to notify results and mail teamsheets on time to be subject to a £10 fine in EML, not a point deduction.	31	5
4.5 Forfeited fixtures	If a team fails to honour a fixture in a Division 2 or higher, the match will be awarded 0-3 to the opposition and the defaulting team will be deducted 3 points.	42	5
4.5 Postponements	Clubs in indoor competitions in mid-winter may postpone a first-team league match … but the match must be played before the restart of the League in Jan.	40	5
5.1  Pool Umpiring	Matches in EML 2 up and EWL 1 up will be covered by East and County pools.  For each team in those divisions, a club must supply one umpire to a pool.   Club supplied umpires must be named to the pool sufficiently in advance for inclusion in appointment sheets. Penalties for failing to supply umpires are made more flexible, but could lead to loss of matches for persistent offenders. County pools may cover lower divisions by agreement and if resources permit.  Clubs should support their local CHUA in this. Note:  these changes are supported by East Umpires.	40	4
5.2  Club umpiring	Before the season clubs must provide lists of their Level 1 umpires to their CHUA, and must keep this up to date during the season.  All such umpires must be paid‑up members of their CHUA.  If in a match requiring a L1 umpire a club uses an umpire that is not listed or is not a CHUA member, the match will be awarded to the opposing side. From 2006/7 all East League matches must be covered by Level 1 or higher umpires.  In specified lower divisions probationer Level 1 umpires may be used. Also from 2006/7 clubs must have at least 2 L1 umpires for each team in the league.   (Note:  these changes are supported by East Umpires).	33	13

All the rule amendments were therefore carried.

During discussion of proposal 5.1, pool umpiring, the meeting was generally in favour of some degree of flexibility being applied in the case of clubs particularly adversely affected by the removal of national league umpires from club quotas, such that they would be given time to make up the shortfall.  League Management emphasised that, as with all rules, particular circumstances would be taken into account, providing the club concerned was genuinely trying to comply as quickly as possible.

During discussion of proposal 5.2, club umpiring, queries were raised about the capacity of county umpire associations to watch and grade sufficient new L1 umpires in the coming season to enable club quotas to be filled in 2006/7.  League Management emphasised that application of L1 quotas in 2006/7 would be dependent upon there being adequate progress in developing new umpires in the coming season, and that it would be important for clubs and umpire associations to communicate effectively with each other on this.

6.  A.O.B.

In response to a question from the floor concerning potential sponsorship of the East Region Hockey Association next season, the League Secretary assured the enquirer that discussions would soon be in progress.

There being no other business, the meeting was closed in anticipation of the 2004/5 trophy presentations.

TW/15.6.05